2.30pm: Henderson’ gratitude
Henderson flourished under Brendan Rodgers after the Northern Irishman initially wanted to offload him from Anfield upon coming to the helm in 2012.
The midfielder has spoken of the warmth he will feel towards the away dugout this afternoon, saying: “There is little room for sentiment in football and today I have no doubt at all that the manager in the away dugout will have as much desire to win here as we all have in looking to beat his side.
“That said, it’s impossible to ignore the person, along with key staff members, returning to Anfield this afternoon for first time since they left Liverpool.
“For 90-plus minutes we are opponents, but the only way to describe Brendan Rodgers, Kolo Toure, Chris Davies and Glen Driscoll is as returning friends – and as people who did a lot to help not just this club as a whole but a number of individual players within it, myself included. I know they’ll get a warm welcome before and after the game.”
2.20pm: Five juicy stats (courtesy of the Opta boffins)
- Liverpool’s current run of 16 consecutive league victories is the second-longest ever in English top-flight history, bettered only by Man City between August-December 2017 (18)
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 43 home league games – Liverpool’s second-longest ever in top-flight history (Their previous best of 63 between February 1978-December 1980 was eventually ended by Leicester)
- Since Brendan Rodgers was appointed Leicester manager, only Liverpool (49) and Manchester City (46) have won more Premier League points than the Foxes (31)
- Jamie Vardy has scored seven Premier League goals against Liverpool – only Andrew Cole (11) and Thierry Henry (8) have scored more against the Reds in the competition
- If Sadio Mane scores, it will be his 50th Premier League goal for Liverpool in his 100th appearance for the club
2.10pm: Thoughts on the line-ups
Two changes for Liverpool from last week’s 1-0 win at Sheffield United as Lovren and Milner come in for Matip and Henderson. We knew Matip would miss today through a knee injury but Klopp has opted to overlook Gomez, intriguingly. As for Milner and Henderson, there’s not much difference between the two players and Klopp often switches up his midfield three.
It was clearly too early for Alisson to make it back into the team as he sits out this game despite hopes he could make it into the squad. Youth product Kelleher once again waits in the wings on the bench.
In the away dressing room, a big boost for Rodgers as he brings Maddison back into the line-up following a sore ankle last week. Perez makes way for the Englishman, who scored the winner in his last appearance against Tottenham.
2pm: Teams confirmed
Liverpool XI: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Milner, Wijnaldum, Mane, Salah, Firmino
Subs: Kelleher, Keita, Gomez, Henderson, Lallana, Origi, Elliott
Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell, Barnes, Tielemans, Ndidi, Praet, Maddison, Vardy
Subs: Ward, Justin, Morgan, Gray, Albrighton, Perez, Choudhury
1.55pm: Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has been talking about Liverpool and his time at the club ahead of the match.
He said: “I am the type of person who is happy for the club and especially happy for players like Jordan [Henderson] and James Milner – players I worked with and had a strong relationship with.
“I was so happy for Jordan when he lifted the Champions League trophy because I know how much he has developed and worked for it.
“I was never going to be bitter. That’s why I let Jurgen [Klopp] move into my house! I had a good relationship with Ray Haughan – the player liaison officer – and he told me Jurgen was struggling to find somewhere to live so I said, ‘Listen, I am moving to London for a bit and will not be there now, so Jurgen could move in’.”
1.45pm: Welcome to our live coverage of Liverpool vs Leicester from Anfield.
It is first against third in the Premier League as Jurgen Klopp looks to make sure his side go into the international break with a win.
Brendan Rodgers will have other ideas and will want nothing more than a win on his old stomping ground.
Team news will be with us in around 10 minutes.